West Virginia receiver Stedman Bailey (3) carries the ball after a catch during their NCAA college football game against Baylor in Morgantown, W.Va., Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Christopher Jackson)

Can they do it?

West Virginia’s hot start has its players in position to pursue some major-college single-season records. Among them: WR Stedman Bailey, right, has 13 touchdown receptions in five games. The record is 27, set by Louisiana Tech’s Troy Edwards in 1998. QB Geno Smith is completing 81.4 percent, with a passer rating of 202.38. Those are ahead of the records: 76.7 percent by Texas’ Colt McCoy in 2008 and a 191.78 rating by Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson in 2011.

Recognizing Rivera

Former Texas Tech All-American Gabe Rivera was selected in May to the 2012 class of the College Football Hall of Fame. The National Football Foundation arranges an “on-campus salute” for each honoree — 14 great players and three coaches welcomed back to their old stadiums on different Saturdays during the fall. Today, Tech will recognize Rivera, the defensive tackle known as “Senor Sack” who terrorized opposing offenses from 1979-82.

Turnover talk

The Texas Tech defense has already matched its interception total for all of last year with five. CB Cornelius Douglas, left, and S Cody Davis have come up with two apiece and will be looking for more today. West Virginia QB Geno Smith hasn’t been intercepted since he threw two against South Florida in the 2011 regular-season finale, a 30-27 win. Since then, he’s thrown 30 touchdown passes, including games of eight, six and five.